I just got home from the Blytheville, AR Rally, after a diversion to Central Texas.
First the STATS! (Of Interest to the Geeky Engineers like Me):
MILES DRIVEN = 3588
GALLONS OF DIESEL BOUGHT = 536.969 *
AVG COST / GAL = $2.923
AVG MPG = 6.682 **
* Tank was not full at start of trip
** Average is probably higher due to difference in fuel tank level between start of this trip and end of last trip
CHALLENGES:
1) Turn signals worked most of the time, but I am definitely chasing a bad ground in the tailgate area. I will probably re-wire the whole thing this winter, while I get the tailgate repaired. I have a big hole with no cover where the "Tall" valve cover for my Jake sticks out. The horizontal tubing in the tailgate is rusted through at several places.
2) Instantaneous Hot Water Heater wouldn't work. I knew this before I left, but I am a somewhat tough old military guy (Air Force) so I figured it wouldn't kill me to take a cold Navy Shower. Campground showers with hot water were a luxury several days!
3) The Square D 15 amp breaker that feeds my power converter/ smart battery charger quit working halfway through the trip, but I didn't realize it until the batteries were totally dead. I never expected a Square D breaker to fail?!
4) Forgot to pack any coats (only had one sweatshirt), or extra heaters (still don't have my new LP furnace installed), and on my last day in TX it got down to 37 degrees, with a wind chill feels like 33 degrees when cold front/ rainstorms passed through. Bought a 2nd electric Heater in Mississippi, and an electric blanket. The electric blanket set on 2(of 10) made sleeping nice and toasty.
5) Trusted the Davey Crockett Campground map to be somewhat to scale, and did not do my "Recon" prior to hooking TOWD to back of Bus. Yes-- the map was nowhere near scale, and could not be even remotely considered anything more than a rough visual depiction of the campground layout. Lost at least 1/2 hr un-hooking TOWD, backing bus down hill, and re-Hooking TOWD to get out the exit of the campground(which is the same as the entrance--no loop).
SUCCESSES:
1)The bus ran great, appears to have used no oil,
2) my 9 yr old tires (at 95% tread) still show no age or wear.
3) My left leg didn't die from clutching in stop and go traffic on Interstate tie-ups.
4) I forgot all about my "challenges" back at my full time job
5) I read 5 books cover to cover.
6) I AM RE-INVIGORATED TO TACKLE MY REMAINING BUS FINISHES.
7) I got to enjoy the company of a lot of fellow bus-nuts and put names with faces!
My college-age teen didn't burn down the apartment or starve the dog to death while I was gone.
Well, there it is!!
An almost trouble free trip!
Steve Toomey
PA busnut